More Foreknowledge

The foreknowledge of God is a perplexing subject. On the one hand it is easily stated. Yet it is difficult when we try to get our finite minds around it.

It has been established that God is omniscient or all knowing. He knows what lies ahead a hundred or even a thousand years. In fact God knows what will happen from now until eternity! This we know but have difficulty comprehending because of our own limitations.

As already stated in these posts and comments God has a plan. Some would have us believe that everything, even to the minutest detail, happens according to God's plan. Such cannot be established from the scriptures. What can be shown is that God formulated His plan according to his foreknowledge

Consider the following question in this regard.
Which of the following statements is true?
God planned on Adam and Eve sinning therefore they sinned according to the plan of God.
He knew that they would sin therefore He planned accordingly.

Let us know what you think. Happy pondering.

The Foreknowlege of God

The scriptures are filled with evidence of the omniscience of God. In everyday vernacular we are talking about the all-knowing nature of God. Consider the following verse: Acts 2:23 him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:. Here Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost and tells the people that the crucifixion of Jesus was foreknown by God.

A reasonable question arises. How long before it happened did God know that it would take place? It would have been long enough had He known a week or a month before it happened. However consider Isaiah 53 which prophetically describes the crucifixion more than 700 years before it took place. We also see from Psalm 22 another description of this event spoken of by David more than 1000 years prior to the event. If more proof is needed we can go back to Genesis 3 and read of the prediction of this event when man was cast out of the garden.

We said all that to show from the scriptures the foreknowledge of God. Because God knew before creation that man would sin He made a plan for man's redemption. Jesus was crucified to make redemption available to us according to the foreknowledge of God. Praise God!

God's Will - 2

We previously asked the question "Is everything that happens on a daily basis God's will?" Some immediately said "NO" and others responded with the affirmative.

I would suggest to you that it is much easier to demonstrate from the scriptures the negative than the affirmative. Consider the following scriptures: 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Ephesians 6:6 not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 1Peter 4:2 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

In each of the above scriptures it is clear that there are choices which man must make. He must choose to do sin or the will of God. So when I sin is it the will of God? Absolutely not!! Why? Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and God does not will that any should perish but serve Him, see the above scriptures again.

Our next question is "Does the fact that God knows a thing will happen mean that He wills it to happen?

What think ye? Happy pondering.

God's Will

A rather thought provoking question come to my mind as a result of a comment about God ruling in the kingdoms of men. Here is the statement made by "anonymous" "what I do know is that it is God's will and He knows what He is doing." Let me say that the last part of the statement is a no brainer, God knows what He is doing.

The thought provoking part of the statement is "it is God's will". Is every thing that happens to us or anyone else at any given moment "God's will"? Interesting question!

This statement was made in reference to the war on Iraq in the context of God ruling in the kingdoms of men. I am unsure what the overall position of the commenter is about the statement. There are some who believe that everything that happens is God's will. So here is our question.

Is everything that happens on a daily basis "God's will"?

If not why not?

If so how can we know?

Happy pondering!

DOES GOD RULE IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN? II

In answer to our questions, the Scriptures teach very clearly that God does indeed rule in the kingdoms of men. Consider the following scriptures. Jeremiah 5:15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Jeremiah 25:12-13 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever. And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

These two passages would be enough but consider also Habakkuk 1:5-11, Isaiah 10:5-11, II Chronicles 36:22-23.

As we read through the Old Testament we see how that God used one nation to execute his judgment upon another. We notice in the prophets that they warned the people that this is what was going to happen and we see in the books of history how it came to pass.

But since we are not bound by the Old Testament today we ask "Does He still rule today?" Again the answer can be found clearly stated in the New Testament. Consider: Romans 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Can any misunderstand this clear statement? In the context we can observe that the powers of which it is speaking are governments and God puts them in place to accomplish His judgment upon evil-doers. It is clear that we are not talking about the final judgment as that job belongs to the Christ our Saviour.

The last part of our question is the most difficult to determine. It falls into the same category as the "providence of God". Often times we cannot see how God was working until well after the fact. This does not take away from God any glory. When we recognize it we then give Him His praise. Keep in mind Romans 8:28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. We may not be able to see the good that will come from something at the time but upon later reflections we can see how it was in our best interest and did indeed accomplish good.

So am I saying that God used the USA to execute His judgment upon Iraq? What I am saying is that we cannot dismiss this as a viable possibility! Perhaps in time we will be able to see the truth in the matter.

DOES GOD RULE IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN?

In a recent broadcast on WHO radio the host Steve Deace was condemning President Bush and the war on Iraq. He said the war was unjust and that we had no business perpetrating it. I must also point out that Deace has what he calls a "Christian world view" and has published a book, the title of which is taken from Scripture, "Without A Vision The People Perish". Now I haven't read the book. I mention it only to introduce our next topic of discussion.

As I listened to the broadcast it occurred to me that perhaps Deace had overlooked one important part of a "Biblical world view". This then brings us to our thought question. It is a three part question.

DOES GOD RULE IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN?

IF SO, HOW?

AND HOW CAN WE KNOW?

I trust you will give careful consideration to your answers. Happy pondering.